This entry was posted on Thursday, September 7th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Horses. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
One of the most important things when buying a horse is to consider your riding ability and how knowledgeable you are. It can be easy to over-estimate your experience or knowledge of horse care, particularly when a certain horse catches your eye! You also need to think about the size and age of the horse most suitable for you.
Questions you should ask yourself before you start your search for your new horse:
What do you want in a horse? What are your plans for the future a few years down the road? What sort of temperament are you looking for? If you are not experienced around horses then you should look for a gentle and serene horse. Novice riders are advised not to buy a young horse that needs to be broken in.
Horses do not speak our language. That is why we must learn to communicate with them in non-verbal ways. Have you noticed the swivel of their ears, the movements of their hips and the expressions on their face? These non-verbal cues are the way horses communicate with each other and with us.
In order to communicate, we must understand what our body language says to the horse. Waving arms around in a desperate attempt to get the halter on is sure to cause some alarm. Running towards them in a pasture instead of approaching them calmly can give them the image of a surprise attack by a predator. When you are around your horse make sure your body language is slow, calm, and assertive.
Happy Trails with your new horse!